Poster: Epidemiology: Pathogen-Vector Interations
646-P
Aphid-mediated potyvirus transmission: host plant chemistry, vector biology and component interactions
K. GADHAVE (1), B. Dutta (2), J. Schmidt (2), R. Srinivasan (2) (1) University of Georgia, U.S.A.; (2) University of Georgia, U.S.A.; (3) University of Georgia, U.S.A.
Potyviruses pose a significant threat to cucurbit production in Georgia and in the Southeastern United States. Aphids transmit these viruses in a non-circulative manner, causing extensive yield losses worth millions of dollars annually. The present virus and aphid management strategy involves the use of insecticides and transgenic cucurbit cultivars. However, none of these approaches have proven to be sustainable, especially due to the development of vector resistance to insecticides, and the narrow spectrum of virus resistance in transgenic cultivars. It is therefore critical to explore the novel avenues for reducing vector populations and viral incidences. To attain this, we have undertaken a holistic approach that explores the fundamental mechanisms underlying aphid-potyvirus interactions in cucurbit systems. Through an array of lab and field experiments, we have been studying the virus transmission, component interactions in the pathosystem and their impacts on vector behavior, fitness and transcriptome. The impact of these results in the context of virus epidemics and management will be discussed.